Category Archives: repair

The bathroom sink has been running slow for a few months. I had tried to pull out the hair, etc using the end of a chopstick (it worked to pull out some of it), but I didn’t think it had much hair, etc still down the drain.

The husband suggested I clear out under the sink (ugh) and we pull the stopper out so we could get it really clean.

Well, I got the area under the sink cleared out, but he didn’t have a chance to work on it. So… I did a Google search on how to get the stopper out.

After I got all of above out I wiped down the drain with a paper towel and put the stopper back in.

To get the drain even cleaner I then put 1/2 cup baking soda over the drain. I poured a warmed mixture of 1 cup vinegar + 1 cup water over the baking soda and closed the drain for about 30 minutes. After that the drain appeared to drain quickly.

I guess I need to add this task to my To Do List (maybe every six months, if not sooner).

Well, this was going to be a post about how handy husband and I fixed our 12 year old Kenmore Front load washing machine. One night a couple of weeks ago when it was near the end of the final spin cycle it abruptly made HORRIBLE sounds (turns out the tub was swinging around and hitting the side of the walls and front of the washer). When handy husband and I took off the back we found that one of the shocks was broken.

So, I did a Google search on the model number and found out that RepairClinic.com had the shocks and a video that showed it was pretty easy to replace. So, I ordered the parts and we waited. While I was gone for a few days handy husband got the old shocks out (he said it was pretty easy) so all we would have to do was put the new ones in and start using it again.

The new shocks went in pretty easy and I tested out the machine by rinsing and spinning out a few towels. It was semi-louder than I remembered, but we thought it was okay. So, then I decided to wash the towels and a couple of pairs of jeans. It sounded fine until it got to the end of the spin cycle. I heard this HORRIBLE noise from the other end of the house. I went running for the laundry room to turn it off. I came upon Pepper (the Golden Retriever) in the dining room with her ears pulled back and running for the hall (which she has never been allowed to go down).

We first thought the washer was somehow unbalanced (which was weird since it was never unbalanced before). So, we added foam between the tub and the sides, but it still was making horrible noises. (The way Pepper was acting [ears back and wanting to leave the house] should have told us that it was making horrible noises before we could hear it.)

I did a YouTube search and found a video on how to take apart our washing machine. They discusses that the ‘spider’ which is inside the tub breaks. Uh, oh. Between that video and a comment from a friend we decided that was what was wrong. Since the spider is part of the drum it is very expensive to fix.

So, I went searching (Consumer Reports, Google, etc) and found out that Home Depot had the LG 4.0 Cu. ft. washer (WM3050CW) on Black Friday sale for $579 ($220 off). To be safe I ordered the 3 year protection plan for $80 (it says they will replace the unit if it is a Lemon).

So, the washing machine is on back order so we are without a washing machine until December 3rd. I am hoping we only have a few more trips to the laundry mat before it arrives and right now I am so happy that I don’t live too far from the laundry mat.

Also, I realized I didn’t mention the YouTube video I had found so I added the link. Note: I didn’t watch past the point where it stated what a ‘drain air gap’ was and that I needed to clean it out.

So, this morning I was being super productive – listening to the television, making Gluten Free Waffles (which I just realized I haven’t posted the recipe for yet, but I will), cooking bacon in the oven and emptying the dishwasher all at the same time. Sounds pretty good, right? Well, it would have been IF I had checked the bottom of the dishwasher before I emptied it and put the dishes away.

Note to self: Check the bottom of the dishwasher before emptying it.

See, the dishwasher was filled with dirty water (and the amount in this photo was after I had scooped most of it out) – yuck! So, now I had problems: not working dishwasher, a sink of dirty dishes AND I didn’t know which dishes sitting in the cupboards had just come out of the dishwasher!

So, I pulled out the dishwasher booklet and saw a note about cleaning the ‘drain air gap’ – I didn’t even know what that was or where it was. Do you know what it is??

So, I did a Google search which brought up a YouTube video. I was surprised to find out it was the ‘thing’ that is next to the kitchen faucet. (So, that is what it is and what it’s job is – I learned something new today!)

YouTube video I had found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmG2JXQL858

Ours hadn’t been cleaned in a while (per the husband tonight). The metal part easily pulled off, but the plastic part had hard water build up on it and was difficult to snap the top part off, but I got it. (I used vinegar / baking soda to help clean some of the crud off.)

I was shocked how much junk was inside of it! (This photo looks like a bug, but it really was small pieces all stuck together.)

After I cleaned out the ‘drain air gap’ and scooped out all of the dirty water I ran a quick wash and prayed it would not have any dirty water in the bottom when the cycle was finished. I was doing the happy dance when the bottom of the dishwasher was empty when I opened it!

So, I have done multiple loads of dishes today – I at least knew the blue dishes had not been used lately so they were skipped. I still have a sink full of dishes, but I am almost back to where I started this morning.

So, I am guessing I saved a couple of hundred dollars and a call to the plumber.

Do you have a Drain Air Gap (sounds like they are not required in all areas)? When was the last time you cleaned it??